Metrisability of three-dimensional path geometries

DOI10.1007/S40879-016-0095-3MaRDI QIDQ503213zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Maciej Dunajski, M. Eastwood

Publication date 11 January 2017

Published in European Journal of Mathematics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1408.2170

zbMATH Keywords

metrisabilitypath geometryprojective differential geometryWeyl geometry

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Projective connections (53B10)

Abstract: Given a projective structure on a three-dimensional manifold, we find explicit obstructions to the local existence of a Levi-Civita connection in the projective class. These obstructions are given by projectively invariant tensors algebraically constructed from the projective Weyl curvature. We show, by examples, that their vanishing is necessary but not sufficient for local metrisability.

Review text

A projective structure on a manifold is a class of (symmetric) affine connections with the same unparametrized geodesics. If a Levi-Civita connection is found in the class, the structure is called metrisable. In dimension two the (local) metrisability problem was resolved in the paper by \textit{R. Bryant} et al. [J. Differ. Geom. 83, No. 3, 465--500 (2009; Zbl 1196.53014)] and, in a different but equivalent formulation, by the reviewer [J. Geom. Phys. 58, No. 8, 979--995 (2008; Zbl 1145.53067)]. The paper addresses dimension three. The main result is a sequence of explicit invariant tensors whose vanishing is necessary for metrisability. It should be stressed that these tensors generate neither all projective differential invariants nor those that are responsible for metrisability. Also it should be mentioned that the deduced tensors are relative rather than absolute differential invariants. However they are obtained by a natural algebraic (representation-theoretic) construction, interesting in its own, and are sufficient to insure non-metrisability of both Egorov (known from before) and Newtonian type projective structures.

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Cited in

(16)

• Projectively invariant objects and the index of the group of affine transformations in the group of projective transformations
• Metrisability of projective surfaces and pseudo-holomorphic curves
• Almost every path structure is not variational
• 3-dimensional Levi-Civita metrics with projective vector fields
• Aerodynamics of flying saucers
• Metrisability of two-dimensional projective structures
• Metrics in projective differential geometry: the geometry of solutions to the metrizability equation
• Detecting Einstein geodesics: Einstein metrics in projective and conformal geometry
• Special metrics and scales in parabolic geometry
• Geometry of solutions to the c-projective metrizability equation
• Metrisability of Painlevé equations
• Open problems and questions about geodesics
• Metrics admitting projective and c-projective vector fields
• Integrability of quantum dots
• Weyl metrizability of 3-dimensional projective structures and CR submanifolds
• Projective versus metric structures

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